Hinge



Oct. 12 1926.

1,602,480 M. J. CUNNINGHAM HINGE Filed August 27. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Michael d.cunninghom MMIM Afiys.

Oct."12 1926. I 1,602,480

v M. J. CUNNINGHAM HINGE Filed August 2'7. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

I .fliliiiiiims \nvenTon Michael -.J.Cunninghom byMWIM ATTy s.

Patented Get. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES MICHAEL J. CUNNINGHAM, OF ROXBUBY, MASSACHUSETTS.

HINGE;

Application filed August 27, 1925. Serial No. 52,832.

This invention relates to hinges and has for its object to provide a novel hinge which is suitable for use either as a gate hinge or as a door hinge.

My improved hinge comprises two hinge members, one of which is provided with an internal annular trackway and the other of which is provided with an arcuateshaped shoe that operates in the trackway. The shoe is secured to one of the two parts that are hinged together and the member having the circular trackway is secured to the other part. If desired, a spring can be located in the circular trackway and attached to the shoe which will resist opening movement of the door or gate and tend to close the latter.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings some selected embodiments thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view showing my hinge as applied to a gate hinge;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1:

3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating an adjusting device for adjusting the tension of the spring;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 7 showing the hinge adapted for use in hanging a door;

Fig. 7 is a side view of Fig. 6.

14y improved hinge comprises the hinge members 1 and 2. The hinge member 1 is provided internally with an annular trackway or raceway 3 and.the hinge member is formed with an arcuate shoe 4 which fits within the trackway. The turning movement of the two hinge members is secured by the sliding movement of the shoe 4 in the circular trackway. The hinge member 1 is secured to one of the two parts which are to be secured together and the hinge member 2 is secured to the other part.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is particularly adapted for use in hanging a gate and in this embodiment the hinge member 1 will be secured to the gate post 5 while the hinge member 2 is secured to the gate 6. The hinge member 1 is shown as a ringshaped member through which a tubular post 5 may be inserted, said member 1 be ing secured to the post in any suitable way.

One way is to provide said member with ears or lugs 8 which overlie the post 5 and are secured thereto by means of screws or bolts 9.

The hinge member 1 is provided on one side with a slot 10 leading to the trackway 3 and the hinge member 2 is provided with any suitable means for attaching it to the gate 6 and for this purpose it may conveniently be made with a foot portion 11 which is secured to the gate by means of suitable screws 12.

I find it convenient to make the hinge member 1 in two parts, said member being divided horizontally along the line 13 so as to make an upper section 14 and a lower section 15. These sections are secured together by bolts or screws 16. This construc tion is preferred because it facilitates the i'i'ialring of the raceway 8; Said raceway (which is preferably circular in cross section) may be partially in the upper section 14 and partially in the lower section 15.

17 indicates a spring which is anchored at one end to the hinge member l as shown M18 and is connected at the other end to the shoe as shown at 19. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the opening movement of the gate 6 is from the full to the dotted line position. such movement carrying the shoe portion aroundthe trackway 4 to approximately a 90 angle. During this movement the spring 17 is stretched and placed under increased tension. preferably a spiral spring of a size to freely fit the trackway. WVhen the gate has been opened and is then released the tension-of the spring 17 will swing the gate into its closed. position. indicated in full lines Fig. 2. When in this position the stem of the member 2 engages the end of the slot 10 and thus limits the closing movement of the gate.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a construction for adjusting the tension of the spring 17. In this embodiment the spring is anchored at one end to a pin 21 which occupies a curved slot 22 that is formed vertically through the hinge member 1. This pin has rigid therewith at its upper end a pinion 23 which meshes with a rack 24 that is fixed to the hinge member 1. The upper'end 25 of the pin is squared to receive a wrench. By rotating the pin the pinion 23 will be rolled over the stationary rack 24 and the position of the pin will thus be adjusted longi- This spring 18 i tudinally of the slot 22 thereby to place the spring under greater or less tension. hen the proper adjustment has been made the pin is locked in position by tightening -a=c-lamping nut 26 on the lower end thereof. It will be understood that the pinion 23 is rigid'on the pin 21 so that when the nu't26 is tightened said pin will be locked in adjusted position.

In Figs. 6 and'7 I have illustrateda different embodiment of the inventionadapted for use in hanging a door. In said figures the door is indicated at 27 and the door post 28. In this embodiment the shoe -member of the hinge is securedto the stationaryipart or door post and the track member-is secured to the swinging part or door.

The hinge member containing the .circular track is indicated at 29 and theother member at 30. The track member 29 has the annular trackway 31 and the hinge member :80 has the arcuate shoe 32 whichslides in the'trackway, the member 29 being provided withthe peripheralzgroove 33 through which theshoe:memberprojects. Said shoe member is formed with thefoot 34 which is secured to the door post bymeans of suitable screws 35.

36 indicates a spring whichoccupiesthe trackway 31 and which is connected at one end to the shoe and atithe other end is anchored to the member29as shownvat '37.

In installing this construction *it will be necessary to cutia slotitransversely into the the'door to receivethe member 29 and said member. may beprovided with ears or lugs 38 which overlie the sidesofthe door'and are secured thereto by screws 39. The hinge member 29 *is'divided horizontally asin-tlie other embodiment otthe invention'and the two parts tO-andel-l are secured together by means of bolts or "screws 42 which ext-end through lugs 43 formed'on'the two' sections 4:0 and ll and situated'interiorly'of the-momber 29.

I claim:

1. Ina hinge, the combination with a post, of a track member encircling the 'post and rigidly secured thereto, said track member having an internal-trackway and ajperipheral slot communicating with the trackway,

a shoe member having a shoe which fits the trackway, a door member secured to the shoe member, a pulling spring in the traclzway end of the spring is secured.

'2. In ahinge,'the combination with a post, of 'a'traclr member encircling the post and "igidly secured thereto, said track member having an internal 'trackway and a {peripheral slot communicating with the traclnvay, a shoe member having a shoe which lits he trackway, a door member secured to the slice member, a pulling spring in the traclzway anchored at oneend to one endor' the shoe, a pin carried by the track member and to which the other end of the spring is secured, and means to adjust the pin longitudinally of the trackway.

3. In a hinge, the combination with a post, of a track member encircling the post and rigidly secured thereto, said track memher having an internal traclrway and a pe ripheral slot communicating with the traclc Way, a shoe member having a shoe which fits the track-way, a door member secured to the shoe member, aepulling spring in the trackway-anchored at oneend to one end ofthe shoe, a pincarried by the track member and to which the other end of the spring is secured, and meansenterior to the'trackway to adjust the pin longitudinally of the trackway.

4. 'In a hinge,'the combination with a post, of a-track'member encircling the post, said track member being divided horizontally and each portion thereof having an annular groove, saidgroovesbeingaligned with each other and forming an annular traclrway, said track member also havin aperipheral slot communicating with the trackway, a shoe member having a shoe fitting the trackwa said shoe memben ro'ecting through i In testimony whereof I have signed m name to this specification.

MICHAEL J. CUNN IIGi-lr'iM. 

